Float type attachment for drink receptacle



Aug. 6, 1957 B. s. MORELAND FLOAT TYPE ATTACHMENT FOR DRINK RECEPTACLE Filed July 14, 1953 INVENTGR. fimvzacime Jimmie/m Afro/FA y United States Patent() FLOAT TYPE ATTACHMENT FOR DRINK RECEPTACLE.

Application July 14, 1953, Serial No. 367,825

4 Claims. (Cl. 73-319) This invention relates generally to improvements in float type attachments for drink receptacles to indicate the quantity of a liquid consumed by a child or any individual and, more particularly, to provide an attachment of the amusement type that will encourage children to drink milk or other liquids by playing a game while they drink.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a device of the type indicated provided with a float that is both attractive and useful.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device that may be made to conform to the contour of a drink receptacle.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a device that will be very simple to manufacture and assemble and therefore, economical.

With these objects in view, the invention comprises providing an attachment for a drink receptacle provided with spaced leg means, said leg means being interconnected at one end and having a float means slidably positioned on one of said leg means, all as will be explained more fully hereinafter and finally claimed.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. l is a view of a drink receptacle, partly in elevation and partly in vertical axial section and showing the improved amusement device operatively associated therewith;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the amusement device disconnected from the drink receptacle;

Fig. 4 is an elevational view of the device as seen from the front of Fig. 3 on a reduced scale;

Fig. 5 is an elevational view of the drink receptacle showing a modified form of amusement device operatively associated therewith; and

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of the device shown in Fig. 5.

Referring particularly to the perspective view of Fig. 3, it will be noted that a panel or widened sheet-like member or leg 1 is contoured to adapt it to a drink receptacle indicated as R.

The top portion of this panel 1, as shown, is provided with a relatively narrow neck 2 which is bent at right angles to form a shoulder 3 that will engage the top edge of the drink receptacle 15, more clearly shown in Fig. 1. From the shoulder 3 there extends downwardly and substantially parallel with panel 1 a leg 4 that is provided with an offset bend 5 positioned in such a manner as to facilitate frictional gripping of the drink receptacle to prevent the device from slipping during usage, as well as for still another purpose that will become apparent hereinafter. Beneath the shoulder 3 and extending substantially parallel therewith is a stop element 6, the free end of which is spaced from leg 4 a distance equal to the outermost point of the offset bend 5, and together therewith 2,801,541 Patented Aug. 6, 1957 provides a positive means for positioning the leg 4 parallel to the drink receptacle, for a purpose now to be described. A substantially U-shaped float means 7 of any desired form, see Figs. 1, 2 and 3, is provided with a channel 8 for slidably positioning the float relative to leg 4. It will be obvious, of course, that in the design and manufacture of the device, it is contemplated that the clearance between the rear surface of panel 1 and front or inside surface of leg 4 will be carefully constructed and arranged to assure that the devicemay be attached to a drink receptacle and nevertheless provide for: freedom of movement of the float as it slides relative to the leg 4. Referring particularly to Fig. 1, it will be noted that the float is supported on a liquid, indicated as 9, and may be milk, water, or any other liquid refreshment desired.

Within the scope of the invention and as part of the game that may be played with the device, it is intended that indicia be provided on the exterior surface of panel 1, see particularly Fig. 4, and may be merely in the form of spaced horizontal lines such as indicated at 10. It is intended that the device he made of plastic, so that the float, which may be transparent also, if desired, will be visible through the front panel 1. There are among the numerous plastics that are suitable for use in constructing the device, e. g. polyvinyl acetal, polyvinyl, chloride, polyvinyl acetate, polyvinyl alcohol, polystyrene, methyl methacrylate phenol-formaldehyde, cellulose nitrate, cellulose acetate, ethyl cellulose, cellulose acetate butyrate, casein, etc.

By a combination of the horizontal lines 10 and the float, the child may be induced to drink the milk and thereby see the float, which he may visualize as an elevator car, move downwardly to a lower line, or floor, as he may think of it, each time more of the liquid is consumed.

In another embodiment of the invention shown clearly in Figs. 5 and 6, the same type of float member 7 may be utilized, however, the indicia bearing panel 1a is affixed to a cap 11 as at 12 and slightly removed therefrom is illustrated the float confining leg 4a that is also secured to the cap as at 13. In this embodiment of the invention (see Fig. 5) the indicia bearing panel may be positioned within the drink receptacle and the skirted portion 14 of cap 11 will facilitate attachment of the device to the receptacle.

It will be apparent after examining the drawings and the specification that various changes may be made in the features, as disclosed, by combining any of those illustrated or adding others, all of which is contemplated to be within the scope of the present invention.

I claim:

1. An amusement device for association primarily with the side wall of a childs drinking vessel for encouragement of the child in the consumption of a beverage, said device comprising a pair of substantially parallel leg members for disposition longitudinally of said vessel side wall, means connecting said leg members at one of their ends to maintain them in relative operative association, said connecting means straddling the rim of said vessel side Wall to so support the leg members thereon that one of said leg members will extend into said vessel from said rim to a point adjacent to the bottom of the vessel, float means mounted upon and capable of travel longitudinally of said one leg member in response to change in level of the liquid in said vessel, and means proximate to the bottom adjacent end of said one leg member to maintain said leg member in spaced relation to said vessel wall to permit free travel of said float upon said leg member, whereby by observation of said float means the child may note progress in the consumption of said beverage.

2. An amusement device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the other of said leg members is adapted for arrange- 3. An amusement device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the means for maintaining the said one leg'member 'upon which'said float is mounted in spaced relation to the vessel wall remote from said connecting means and comprises a means oflstanding from said one leg member toward the other leg member, said offstanding means serving for engagement With the vessel Wall to frictionally position the device with respect to said wall and to thereby maintain said float-carrying leg member substantially parallel to said wall. I v

4. An amusement device as claimed in claim 3, wherein said ofistanding means is an integral portion of said leg member.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Van Cleef May 28, 1895 Strauss Mar. 20, 1900 Vanderbilt Aug. 30, 1910 Lytton Dec. 8, 1914 Martucci Jan. 13, 1920 Bassett et al. Apr. 4, 1922 Tycko July 4, 1933 Ramsden Feb. 12, 1935 Stromberg June 12, 1951 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Sept. 14, 1922 

